Microsoft has has pleaded with customers to stop dialling its technical support numbers to ask for an extension to Windows XP

Software giant denies operating 'save-XP' hotline

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Microsoft has denied reports that it is logging calls from customers who requested that the company extend the retail availability of Windows XP, and has pleaded with users not to dial its technical support numbers to ask for an XP extension.

"Word has been passed down to the tech support teams (and then on to Neowin) that they are to begin logging any calls that come in for the sole purpose of requesting an extension to the retail life of Windows XP," said the notice. "The calls will be logged and, if enough complaints are filed, Microsoft will consider giving XP some more time."

Neowin also listed the toll-free telephone numbers for Microsoft's XP and Vista technical support desks in the UK., the US and Canada.

Microsoft has set June 30 as the date when it will stop providing large computer makers and retailers with copies of Windows XP. After that OEMs and retailers will be able to continue selling from their stock but will not be able to order more licences or boxed copies from Microsoft. Some exceptions apply, most importantly an extension until the end of June 2010 for makers of low-cost laptop and desktop PCs.

Within hours of the Friday posting, people claimed that they had dialled the numbers and received only a busy signal. "Line's been busy for hours," said a user identified only as 'jayr0' in a comment left about six hours after the notice appeared.

Microsoft said it is not running any kind of XP-related poll, a company spokeswoman told Computerworld US yesterday. "Microsoft is not organising any official petitions to extend sales of Windows XP," she said. "The phone numbers claimed on Neowin's website as capable of logging calls requesting an extension for Windows XP are actual Microsoft support numbers. They are designed for people seeking technical solutions and help; they are not intended to receive official complaints or suggestions regarding the lifespan of our products."

She also urged users to stop dialling. "As a courtesy to customers in need of technical assistance, we ask callers not to call Microsoft Customer Support Services to request an extension for Windows XP."

Microsoft declined to comment on whether its support lines had experienced a call volume spike starting last Friday, when the Neowin notice first appeared.

Some users commenting on Neowin.net were sceptical from the start that Microsoft was counting calls. "This is all pretty much [a] waste of time," said someone named 'Somnus'. "It is not likely that Microsoft will extend the sales of Windows XP past the current deadline, no matter how many people call in."

"What the hell?" asked a user labelled as 'MMaster23'. "Surely, you have got to be kidding me...those support numbers are there for a reason."

The talk of a phone-in petition may have gained credence from Windows users because of comments made by Microsoft's CEO, Steve Ballmer. In April, Ballmer said that Microsoft might reconsider its decision to pull the OEM and retail plug on XP if it received enough user feedback. Later that same day, however, a company spokeswoman said that Microsoft's position on XP's final days had not changed.

Some save-XP petitions are, in fact, circulating on the web, including one organised by PC Advisor's sister title Infoworld. According to Infoworld, more than 200,000 people have "signed" its petition.

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Comments

asad said: Comments,asad,microsoft means troubles

measures said: Comments,measures,that's ok then, I know where I stand, and will defer replacing my laptop until it is beyond repair. That way I won't have to go through the pain of learing Vista, Office 2007 or later etc. (why do they keep moving options and hiding them lower and lower in the tabs - I've better things to do than tailor another desktop appearance).

Kevin said: Comments,Kevin,Hey Microsoft. WAKE UP and smell the coffee. Vista is a dead duck. Have you lot ever heard of "Give the customers what they want"

Kingy_0 said: Comments,Kingy_0,I agree to some regard that XP has its perks over Vista. But that is only for the time being as developers are playing catch up, probably by the time Microsoft call an end of support for XP Vista will be up to scratch with software drivers.
Plus the one reason everyone complains about Vista is the price to purchase it, well I got it for a really reasonable price as a student :-)
www.software4students.co.uk
They are working in conjunction with Microsoft.
p.s. No I'm not an Advertiser before you start asking :-@

me too said: Comments,me too,if they will not support xp they should give people back thier money mine was bought last october and thats only 8 monthssupport, 8 months of updates so they can scrap it and he will do the same with rotten vista when he feels like it. it cost me £45.00 for dell to take vista of my pc and believe me i will throw the pc in the bin before i will use vista

Barry1936 said: Comments,Barry1936,The sooner Microsoft ditch XP support, the sooner I migrate to an alternative OS. There is no way I will move to Vista, not least because it will mean ditching so many elderly but treasured applications and hardware.

andrew adams said: Comments,andrew adams,i have reason to believe that Microsoft will pull the plug on xp anyway regardless of who moans. I have an XP computer and would like to still get help if it fails. Microsoft seem to be rushing out new operating systems like they are going out of fashion. why can't Microsoft make a system that does not need patching every now and again or need service packs. because Microsoft has the most software and operating systems they do not care about what happens as long as they get their money.

Me said: Comments,Me,I have now bought two laptops with the timings of the purchases being entirely motivated by the the threat of XP's withdrawal.
XP = 2 $alesVISTA = No $ales
I don't know how I can buy a later iteration of any MS OS knowing that it won't support my current hardware or anything that I don't yet own but am interested in.
I don't think that the Yamaha keyboards (and their software) that I was looking at yesterday would work with Vista.

Andrew Tollett said: Comments,Andrew Tollett,Xp is just so much better than Vista for most people. It can only be upgrade greed that is making Microsoft stick to its position. Sad but cant think else why they would be so dogmatic.

Phil Hartley said: Comments,Phil Hartley,Since when have Microsoft ever taken notice of their customers. All they are concerned about is making money by trying to force us all onto Vista, with all it's expensive incompatibility issues.I for one will NOT purchase Vista in any way shape or form.